This story is based on the Opera "Carmen", the same Carmen the kids
performed during the episode "What's Opera Arnold?". Many of the roles have
changed, many have stayed the same. It takes place during the kid's
sophomore year in High School. I tried to make the speech poetic at times.
If you don't know Carmen, that's probably better, the story is exciting and
fun, you should enjoy. I don't own Hey Arnold, ok.
Part 1: Visitors
"Around two or so hours after the end of the school day, several guys would loiter around H. S. 118, waiting for their friends to be let out of sports activities. Today, it was Gerald, Harold, and Eugene, who were waiting for Arnold, and not having a pleasant time of it."
HAROLD
This smoke, I no longer can stand it!!!
"Other than the guys, several girls also hung around the building, waiting for their friends to be let out. The smoke from their cigarettes filled the air."
EUGENE
Do as I, think not of the smoke, think of the people passing, and most certainly think of all the pretty ladies!
HAROLD
A girl with a mouth full of smoke has no appeal to me...
EUGENE
Then look at this one here, without the smoke.
HAROLD
Who is that pretty fem?
"It was a very pretty girl who was walking by, her hair was long and golden, her eyes deep and blue, her lack of make-up made her beauty even more certain."
GERALD
You know not who that is?
HAROLD
I do not, but I care not. Look she comes this way, *gasp*, is it towards us? I will speak to her...
EUGENE
Harold shows no fear...
GERALD
Soon, he will...
HAROLD
Are you looking for me, my lovely one?
GIRL
Flatter yourself not, Pink Boy!!!
HAROLD
*gasp* You're... Helga?
HELGA
Who did you think I was? I'm gone for but two weeks and you fail to recognize me.
GERALD
*Laughs* Bubba's memory is short lived!
HAROLD
Silence!! Or your face, I will crush!
GERALD
You want to try?
"Harold wasn't as big as he used to be, he had managed to lose weight towards the end of sixth grade. Gerald was a match for him."
EUGENE
Come now friends, let us not fight amongst ourselves, this pretty girl needs our help!
HELGA
Yes. I'm searching for Arnold.
EUGENE
He is not here yet, but please, tell us, how was your trip, how fare's Arnold's mother?
HELGA
Not well, for this reason, I bring him a message. But if he is not here, then I must away!
HAROLD
Stay madam! Stay with us, he will be coming very soon!!
HELGA
I have no time for this...
"She quickly ran off, leaving a dazzled Harold, Eugene, and Gerald. Inside, a basketball skirmish was coming to a close, and Arnold and his team was coming out. Girls and guys surrounded him."
CROWD
Our heroes, our representatives on the court!! Our gratitude, we show in whatever ways you want us to!!
"Arnold pushed his way through the crowd, he had turned into a handsome man, not extraordinarily stunning, but he had his share of flings."
GERALD
Good day Arnold, a girl has come asking for you.
ARNOLD
It was Helga?
GERALD
Yes, how did you know?
ARNOLD
I have been waiting for her to come back with news of my mother...
EUGENE
Explain the circumstances to us, why is Helga going to see your mother?
ARNOLD
*sigh* Well, since she has returned from her journey, mother has befriended Helga. They met at the boarding house, during my father's wake. Helga showed her a lot of compassion, although to this day, I know not why... Well, my mother now lives with her sister, but the grief is still overpowering. Helga decided to go visit her.
EUGENE
That was awfully nice of her.
GERALD
And very out of character.
ARNOLD
Helga can be extraordinarily nice sometimes.
GERALD
Well, definitely not often enough to earn her some respect.
ARNOLD
I no longer wish to speak of this, come, shall we play baseball...
"They had as rousing a game as they could, but since last year, they had been missing two players. Sid and Stinky had joined some sort of gang, at least that's what Arnold thought it was. It was also a males only game most of the time. They had barely even started playing, when Grandpa rolled up in the Packard"
GRANDPA
You forgetting something shortman.
"The back door to Grandpa's car opened and out came Arnie, Arnold's cousin on his mother's side."
ARNOLD
Oh, I almost forgot he was coming today.
GRANDPA
You DID forget he was coming today.
"Grandpa rolled away, leaving Arnie with the other guys..."
ARNOLD
So, um, Arnie, how's my mother.
ARNIE
She sleeps a lot.
ARNOLD
Helga was at your house for some time...
ARNIE
Yeah.
GERALD
Well, I believe that you love her, correct?
ARNIE
No. Is Lila around?
"There was a hush. None of the guys wanted to say much about Lila, they all liked her, some of them were jealous of Arnie cause she had liked him once. Arnold doubted that she'd still like him, considering her current way of life and all..."
GERALD
I doubt that option is still available to you...
HAROLD
Yeah, and if it was, I'd recommend you stay on your guard, nonetheless.
"Arnie shrugged, and sat down against one of the buildings. Several guys grumbled, but continued playing. At the boarding house that night, Arnold had a serious discussion with Arnie..."
ARNIE
This is just cause you love her...
ARNOLD
I have no love for Lila, I have not for many years.
ARNIE
Then why bother me?
ARNOLD
Cause you'll get hurt.
ARNIE
I take care of myself.
ARNOLD
I do not mean she will cause you to feel the pain of love, I mean she might lead you to a place where your life will be at stake.
ARNIE
What do you mean?
ARNOLD
Some time has passed, since Lila was a saint. Her heart, it has turned from white to a very dark red. My love for her passed as did her love for others. Fear her, and fear her friends. My former comrades, the noble Sid and Stinky, followed her into a dark coalition. I have not heard of them much, but I do see things, dark things. I see them following an entourage in early hours of the morning. I see them carrying boxes, from one spot to the next. I dare not think what these boxes might contain, but I doubt they are sanctioned by the laws of this land. And at this entourage's head, I see Lila...
ARNIE
Perhaps I shall think this over some more.
ARNOLD
You do that, and be careful.
All right, tell me how you think this is, and whether I should keep going. Also, if you want me to, I'll put a list of characters and what role they're filling in regard to the opera.
Part 1: Visitors
"Around two or so hours after the end of the school day, several guys would loiter around H. S. 118, waiting for their friends to be let out of sports activities. Today, it was Gerald, Harold, and Eugene, who were waiting for Arnold, and not having a pleasant time of it."
HAROLD
This smoke, I no longer can stand it!!!
"Other than the guys, several girls also hung around the building, waiting for their friends to be let out. The smoke from their cigarettes filled the air."
EUGENE
Do as I, think not of the smoke, think of the people passing, and most certainly think of all the pretty ladies!
HAROLD
A girl with a mouth full of smoke has no appeal to me...
EUGENE
Then look at this one here, without the smoke.
HAROLD
Who is that pretty fem?
"It was a very pretty girl who was walking by, her hair was long and golden, her eyes deep and blue, her lack of make-up made her beauty even more certain."
GERALD
You know not who that is?
HAROLD
I do not, but I care not. Look she comes this way, *gasp*, is it towards us? I will speak to her...
EUGENE
Harold shows no fear...
GERALD
Soon, he will...
HAROLD
Are you looking for me, my lovely one?
GIRL
Flatter yourself not, Pink Boy!!!
HAROLD
*gasp* You're... Helga?
HELGA
Who did you think I was? I'm gone for but two weeks and you fail to recognize me.
GERALD
*Laughs* Bubba's memory is short lived!
HAROLD
Silence!! Or your face, I will crush!
GERALD
You want to try?
"Harold wasn't as big as he used to be, he had managed to lose weight towards the end of sixth grade. Gerald was a match for him."
EUGENE
Come now friends, let us not fight amongst ourselves, this pretty girl needs our help!
HELGA
Yes. I'm searching for Arnold.
EUGENE
He is not here yet, but please, tell us, how was your trip, how fare's Arnold's mother?
HELGA
Not well, for this reason, I bring him a message. But if he is not here, then I must away!
HAROLD
Stay madam! Stay with us, he will be coming very soon!!
HELGA
I have no time for this...
"She quickly ran off, leaving a dazzled Harold, Eugene, and Gerald. Inside, a basketball skirmish was coming to a close, and Arnold and his team was coming out. Girls and guys surrounded him."
CROWD
Our heroes, our representatives on the court!! Our gratitude, we show in whatever ways you want us to!!
"Arnold pushed his way through the crowd, he had turned into a handsome man, not extraordinarily stunning, but he had his share of flings."
GERALD
Good day Arnold, a girl has come asking for you.
ARNOLD
It was Helga?
GERALD
Yes, how did you know?
ARNOLD
I have been waiting for her to come back with news of my mother...
EUGENE
Explain the circumstances to us, why is Helga going to see your mother?
ARNOLD
*sigh* Well, since she has returned from her journey, mother has befriended Helga. They met at the boarding house, during my father's wake. Helga showed her a lot of compassion, although to this day, I know not why... Well, my mother now lives with her sister, but the grief is still overpowering. Helga decided to go visit her.
EUGENE
That was awfully nice of her.
GERALD
And very out of character.
ARNOLD
Helga can be extraordinarily nice sometimes.
GERALD
Well, definitely not often enough to earn her some respect.
ARNOLD
I no longer wish to speak of this, come, shall we play baseball...
"They had as rousing a game as they could, but since last year, they had been missing two players. Sid and Stinky had joined some sort of gang, at least that's what Arnold thought it was. It was also a males only game most of the time. They had barely even started playing, when Grandpa rolled up in the Packard"
GRANDPA
You forgetting something shortman.
"The back door to Grandpa's car opened and out came Arnie, Arnold's cousin on his mother's side."
ARNOLD
Oh, I almost forgot he was coming today.
GRANDPA
You DID forget he was coming today.
"Grandpa rolled away, leaving Arnie with the other guys..."
ARNOLD
So, um, Arnie, how's my mother.
ARNIE
She sleeps a lot.
ARNOLD
Helga was at your house for some time...
ARNIE
Yeah.
GERALD
Well, I believe that you love her, correct?
ARNIE
No. Is Lila around?
"There was a hush. None of the guys wanted to say much about Lila, they all liked her, some of them were jealous of Arnie cause she had liked him once. Arnold doubted that she'd still like him, considering her current way of life and all..."
GERALD
I doubt that option is still available to you...
HAROLD
Yeah, and if it was, I'd recommend you stay on your guard, nonetheless.
"Arnie shrugged, and sat down against one of the buildings. Several guys grumbled, but continued playing. At the boarding house that night, Arnold had a serious discussion with Arnie..."
ARNIE
This is just cause you love her...
ARNOLD
I have no love for Lila, I have not for many years.
ARNIE
Then why bother me?
ARNOLD
Cause you'll get hurt.
ARNIE
I take care of myself.
ARNOLD
I do not mean she will cause you to feel the pain of love, I mean she might lead you to a place where your life will be at stake.
ARNIE
What do you mean?
ARNOLD
Some time has passed, since Lila was a saint. Her heart, it has turned from white to a very dark red. My love for her passed as did her love for others. Fear her, and fear her friends. My former comrades, the noble Sid and Stinky, followed her into a dark coalition. I have not heard of them much, but I do see things, dark things. I see them following an entourage in early hours of the morning. I see them carrying boxes, from one spot to the next. I dare not think what these boxes might contain, but I doubt they are sanctioned by the laws of this land. And at this entourage's head, I see Lila...
ARNIE
Perhaps I shall think this over some more.
ARNOLD
You do that, and be careful.
All right, tell me how you think this is, and whether I should keep going. Also, if you want me to, I'll put a list of characters and what role they're filling in regard to the opera.